Tell Me Something Good- Haysville Learning Cafe

In June, the phone rang with one of those calls that remind us exactly why we do what we do. A foster care agency staff member’s voice was heavy with worry:

“Can you help me with a student? She turns 18 on August 15. She has two credits to finish, and if she doesn’t graduate by then, she’ll lose her chance at college scholarships.”

There was no hesitation in our response.

“Absolutely. I’ll need to find a district to sponsor her credits, but I’ll work on that from my end and get her started right away.”

So she worked—hard. All summer long, she poured herself into four classes. Her mom cheered her on, doing everything she could to help. Meanwhile, I kept reaching out to districts, searching for someone willing to take on her sponsorship. The answers that came back were variations of the same heartbreak: “She might not finish.” “We can’t afford it.” Each time, I told them I understood, but I kept asking.

And then—on August 2—she did it. She finished her classes. Every single one. The only piece missing was the sponsor.

I called the Haysville Learning Café team with a new idea:

“Do you think we could do a little graduation ceremony for her?”

Their response was immediate:

“A thousand percent, Carmen. We’ve got it.”

That same day, we sent an urgent email to a district, laying out her story and her readiness to graduate. Within two hours, the response came back:

“Of course. We’ll do whatever it takes to help this student.”

Just like that, her transcript was official, her diploma was ordered, and the door to her college applications swung wide open.

The Haysville team created a spectacular graduation ceremony. Family poured into the room—so many we lost count for a moment, but the final tally was 25 people. Twenty-five family members standing tall, cheering, crying, and celebrating a young woman who had fought for her future and won.

Why We Do What We Do

This is why we do this. Because behind every phone call is a student with a story, a dream hanging in the balance. And when the right people say yes, that dream turns into a diploma—and a doorway to everything that comes next.